Born in Vallejo, California, Mabry's mother enjoyed playing piano and her father was a choir director and radio DJ.
The following year, Mabry and Silva became the original Brides of Funkenstein,[2] releasing their first album Funk Or Walk.
Silva continued The Brides with backing singers Sheila Horne and Jeanette McGruder for another year.
She also spent time as a background vocalist, continuing to tour with such acts as Rita Coolidge, Namie Amuro and Bette Midler and George Michael in 1989 on the song "If You Were My Woman".
Mabry is also a business partner with Sheila E. In 2001, the two co-founded the nonprofit Elevate Hope Foundation, which uses music and the arts to help "abused and abandoned children.